Two Republican lawmakers sent a letter to the head of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Friday expressing concern over the Biden administration’s allegations of “retaliation” against a senior Border Patrol officer who was also a witness to the investigation.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green letter CBP Director Troy Miller said he was informed by a whistleblower that Chief Patrol Agent for the El Centro Border Sector, Gregory Bovino, had been fired and transferred to headquarters after testifying as a witness in the Southern Border Crisis investigation. CBP also allegedly banned Mr. Bovino from testifying before a House committee because his prepared remarks did not please government officials, according to the letter. (Related: Mayorkas boasts of using term ‘illegal alien’ in conversation about migrants exploiting border crisis)

🚨Breaking News🚨

Hours after El Centro Border Patrol Chief Sergeant Gregory K. Bovino attended our committee for a voluntary transcript interview, we learned that Chief Bobino had been removed from command of El Centro Border Patrol and reassigned.

— Oversight Board (@GOPoversight) July 21, 2023

“We write this letter with deep concern that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials may have retaliated against witnesses in a Congressional investigation. [Bovino] He has been relieved of command of the El Centro area and reassigned to temporary headquarters duties for a vague and indefinite period,” the letter reads.

CBP denied the allegations in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation.

“This accusation is completely false. This temporary appointment had nothing to do with congressional testimony or appearances and was in progress prior to the transcript of the Secretary’s interview,” a CBP spokesperson told DCNF.

According to the letter, Mr. Kummer and Mr. Green asked Mr. Miller to provide documents and correspondence discussing the matter.

“Given the questionable timing of the reassignment coupled with Chief Bovino’s cooperation with the Congressional investigation, we request CBP to explain the current status of Chief Bovino’s employment and assignment within the U.S. Border Patrol, to provide documentation and communications related to the reassignment and the reasons for the relevant employment action, and to brief the Commission on this matter,” the letter added.

“Congress’s ability to receive truthful testimony about the activities of the executive branch is paramount to the performance of the critical oversight function necessary to inform the legislative process. No retaliation against witnesses who cooperated with Congressional investigations will be tolerated, especially when such retaliation may be by government officials,” the letter reads.

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